Overview

It is possible to be a Christian Buddhist in the context of a universal kind of belief that sits fairly light to both traditions. But Ross Thompson writes, my own biography has led me to take especially seriously the aspects of each faith that seem incompatible with the other, no God and no soul in Buddhism, for example, and the need for grace and the historical atonement on the cross in Christianity. Hence my Buddhist Christianity can be no bland blend of the tamer aspects of both faiths, but must result from a wrestling of the seeming incompatibles, allowing each faith to shake the other to its very foundations. The author traces the personal journey through which his need for both faiths became painfully apparent. He explores the Buddha and Jesus through their teachings and the varied communities that flow from them, investigating their different understandings of suffering and wrong, self and liberation, meditation and prayer, cosmology and God or not? He concludes with a bold commitment in which both faiths are combined.

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9781846943362

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Reviews

Thompson, an Anglican priest, poses profound, liberating and troubling questions to anyone involved in either Buddhism or Christianity. And he poses the further question: how do we, in integrity, belong to both? (Gavin D'Costa, Professor of Catholic Theology, University of Bristol) On topics ranging from the nature of the self to the nature of the universe, Thompson brings Buddhism and Christianity into a conversation that both prods and enlightens. For Christians, the end result is to be a Christian in a Buddhist way. For many Christians, I suspect, it will be a more satisfying way. I look forward to using this book with my students. (Paul Knitter, Paul Tillich Professor of Theology, World Religions, and Culture, Union Theological Seminary) This book makes a valuable contribution to the emerging debate; it will appeal to scholars and non-scholars alike. (Dr. Rose Drew, Acting Director of the Centre for Inter-Faith Studies, University of Glasgow)

Author Information

Ross Thompson has served for 20 years as an Anglican priest and lectured in theology and spirituality. He is the author of several well-acclaimed books on Christian spirituality.

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